Australia: the Mathieson family and its Poker machines

Although the State Government of Victoria limits the percentage of hotel Poker machines owned by a single operator, the combined interests of the billionaire Mathieson family exceed the limit imposed by law.
In fact, the family's possessions greatly exceed the 35% ownership limit, set by the Victorian Gambling Commission.

This is because family members have combined interests in 45% of Victoria's hotel Poker machines, subsequent to the purchase of pubs across the state over the past two years.
The Mathiesons collectively own thousands slot machines through equity interests in the Endeavour Group and the Black Rhino Group.

The latter, owned by Deborah Mathieson-Tomsic and her husband David Tomsic, in the past two years alone, has purchased 12 hotels, including the historic Craig's Royal Hotel in Ballarat, a structure dating back to the Victorian Gold Rush period.

A "family" business

Director Bruce Mathieson senior recently resigned from his position at Endeavour Group, to be replaced by his son Bruce Mathieson junior. We are talking about a $13 billion enterprise and the largest owner of Poker machines in Australia.
The family currently owns 1154 gambling machines and 23 locations in Victoria, at least according to what we learn from data from the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission.

This family not only maintains the largest corporate shares, but also holds part (15.1 percent) of the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group.
In total, Endeavour and the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) hold 4790 rights (35 percent) of the 13,686 gambling machines in Victoria's hotels.

However, both activists and academics opposed to the machines argue that a single family should not be legitimized in owning such a large part of the slot machine market.
According to these, the situation would stem from a regulatory loophole that needs to be addressed in the casino gaming regulation.

The VGCCC's analysis

According to the VGCCC (Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission), rights in the control of gaming machines would be limited to 35 percent for each license holder. Or, a percentage of 35 percent among license holders who would have a "prescribed connection."
Although individuals with business connections who hold licenses may be considered "prescribed connections," the commission determined that members of the Mathieson family would not fall under this definition.

In fact, the committee found the situation permissible under the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 and the Gambling Regulations 2015.
Opponents think the problem is a failure to regulate. In fact, Tim Costello -principal advocate of the Alliance for Gambling Reform- argues that the Mathieson family's vast holdings of Poker machines depend on regulatory vacuum.
Although we are talking about different individuals, it is obvious that this is a family business. In fact, the Mathiesons are the slot machine operator that dominates the market in Victoria.

Since electronic slot machines were introduced in the state of Victoria 30 years ago, citizens have lost over $66 billion to gambling.

Associate Professor Charles Livingstone - head of the Gambling and Social Determinants Unit at Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine - recently said that the limited ownership of gambling machines was designed with the aim of preventing companies from cleverly distributing the devices in particular disadvantaged areas.
Also, according to Livingstone, the revenue from these lost bets comes from individuals with addiction problems or who are at risk of developing problem behaviors.

Both Livingstone and Costello are appealing to the government of Victoria to follow Tasmania's example. In the latter, in fact, there is a mandatory wagering scheme set up on cards that prevents bettors from exceeding certain spending limits. These are $100 per day, $500 per month and $5,000 per year, if we consider slot machines.

Conclusions

The inability to have multiple competitors in the market, but to centralize all supply in the hands of a few, is never a positive strategy. Especially when we consider the service offered to end customers.
We hope that this legislative gap that led members of the Mathieson family to own many more devices than is set by the limit, will soon be filled.

Slot machines - or pokies - as they are called in Australia, are a fine form of entertainment that must, however, be practiced intelligently and without putting oneself at risk. They can also be tried in some online operators.

Therefore, if you decide to bet with real money, be responsible and stick to the bankroll without exceeding it.